Reminder to Travelers: New Land and Sea Border Crossing Procedures Start January 31, 2008

Media Release January 17, 2008

U.S EMBASSY OTTAWA -- The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa would like to remind travelers that beginning January 31, 2008, individuals crossing the border will be asked to present documents denoting citizenship and identity when entering the United States through land and sea ports of entry. This change primarily affects American and Canadian citizens, who have previously been permitted entry by oral declaration alone, and marks the transition toward standard and consistent documents for all travelers entering the United States.

Beginning January 31st, American and Canadian citizens ages 19 and older should no longer expect that verbal declarations alone will be sufficient to prove identity and citizenship for entry into the United States. Instead, travelers will be asked to present documentation from a specified list when entering the United States at land and sea ports of entry. Travelers who do not present one of these documents may be delayed as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers attempt to verify identity and citizenship. Children ages 18 and under will only need to present a birth certificate.

Today in Washington, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said:

Requiring secure and reliable documentation at our borders will drastically reduce security vulnerabilities posed by permitting entry based on oral declarations alone. As travelers become accustomed to carrying documents to cross the border, and as we move to more stringent documentation requirements, our border officers will be able to more quickly and confidently identify cross-border travelers in order to efficiently facilitate the trade and travel that is so vital to our communities and our neighbors.

Related:
- Important Change in International Land and Sea Travel Document Procedures
- What documents are needed?
- Why Is DHS Tightening Document Security at the Border?
- Why is DHS Eliminating Oral Declarations?
- FAQs